Pa. Hospital Assoc. Reacts to Physician Protests

The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) has issued a statement by president and CEO Carolyn Scanlan in anticipation of this week’s “Code Blue” physician protests, expressing support for the action, but assuring PA residents that its members would continue to assure that medical services remained available.

The full text of the bulletin is as follows:
“The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council of HAP, Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Catholic Health Association, and Pennsylvania Rural Health Association actively support the need for additional medical liability reform. This is necessary to assure Pennsylvanians access to health care.

“In concert with the physician community, we call on the governor and the legislature to provide short-term economic relief for physicians and to support giving the public an opportunity to vote for a change to Pennsylvania’s constitution to allow for limits on non-economic damages.

“We support political activity and public awareness in forms that do not disrupt access to needed medical services. We are working with the physician community to assure continued access to care as we pursue the goal of additional medical liability reform.

“Pennsylvania’s hospitals are prepared to assure the uninterrupted delivery of care.”